IMPORTATION OF STOCK

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21449, 15 April 1935, Page 10

IMPORTATION OF STOCK

Embargo May Be

Lifted

THE GOVERNMENT'S

VIEW

BARGAINING POINT IN

MEAT DISCUSSIONS

[THE PRE 33 Special Service

AUCKLAND, April 14,

As a repercussion from the British meat import situation it appears highly probable that New Zealand's embargo on the direct importation of livestock from Britain on account of foot-and-mouth disease may shortly be lifted. After a cabled enquiry by the British Government, the New Zealand Department of Agriculture has again reviewed the question from every aspect, and the unanimous opinion of its veterinary officers, which is shared by the Government, is that the embargo should cease.

Before taking any fresh action, however, the Minister for Agriculture (the Hon. C. E. Macmillan) has sent a circular letter to breed societies of the Dominion and other responsible farmers' organisations, asking them to discuss the matter fully and submit their views by :hc end of the present month in order that a decision may be marie and a reply sent to London before the meat conferences in May. The Minister's letter states that the British Government has specifically asked for the view of the New Zealand Government regarding the embargo, and a reply must be sent. As the matter will certainly be raised in the coming discussions on meat, the New Zealand Government feels that it should be finally settled one way or the other. Unbiased Consideration "The whole position lias been reviewed from all standpoints," the Minister continues, "and unbiased consideration leads to a clear conclusion that, with proper precautions, British live-stock can be admitted without risk of foot-and-mouth disease, and in fact with less general risk than under the existing system of introduction through other countries. The Government has received persistent requests from many stock owners and stock owners' organisations ior the removal of the embaiyi on the direct importation of cattle, sheep, and pigs from Britain. This course was recommended by a Parliamentary Committee last year, and its recommendation is now unanimously endorsed by the veterinary officers of the department. "Protests against the removal have not been supported by any sound grounds, either practical or scientific, and though doubtless made in all earnestness they can really be: regarded as embodying a negative general policy ->f 'taking no risks.' As a matter of actual fact is is safe to import stock from the United Kingdom if proper precautions are taken. On the other hand, there is always some risk of foot-and-mouth disease being imported through infected hay, straw, clothing, hides, skins, cow-hair, and ship's garbage, though all possible precautions are in force. In the •animal, infection usually manifests itself in from two to seven days, but the virus of the disease has been found to remain active on hay for periods up to 15 weeks.' "Carrier" Animals Referring to the argument that apparently healthy animals may act as "carriers," the Minister states that while "carriers" may exist they are always animals which have had the disease and have recovei ed. However, in the United Kingdom no infected animal is allowed a chance of recovery. Whenever an outbreak occurs, not only those which have contracted the disease, but all others which have been in contact with them are slaughtered, and the caicases effectively destroyed. This rules out any "carrier" risk in British stock.

After stating that. New Zealand alone among the Dominions maintains such an embargo, the Minister continued: ''Thus we have the anomalous position of being engaged in important negotiations with the British Government in an endeavour to obtain as good terms as possible l'or the importation into Great Britain of our livestock products, while at the same time, unlike our competitors, we have stubbornly refused to admit straight from Britain breeding livestock, the export of which constitutes an important source of income to the British far&iing industry. "After carefully reviewing the whole question, the Government is of opinion that steps should _be taken to enable this to be done without further delay." Precautions to be Taken The Minister gives full details of the precautions which the Government proposes to take if the embargo is lifted. These include a provision that no animal may be shipped that has been derived from a farm on which an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has occurred within the preceding 12 months, or within 15 miles of which an outbreak has occurred in the preceding six months. Animals arc to be examined before shipment, and accompanied to New Zealand by a veterinary appointed by" the New Zealand Government, and are to be landed at Wellington only for a quarantine period up to two months. There are stringent rules regarding forage, bedding, utensils, and disinfection of animals before shipment from London. All shipments are to be subject to an assurance by the British Ministry for Agriculture that they can be made without special risk due to widespread outbreaks of the disease existing at the time. Importations will be limited to one or more specially authorised shipments of animals purchased by or on behalf of individual New Zealand breeders. The kind of stock to be included must be officially approved after consultation with the breed societies.